Warp knitting machine



March 26, 1929. T, G 'voRK 1,706,426

WARP KNI TTINGQMACHIYNE Filed June 21, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

'mh 26, 1929. T. G. VORCK IJQGAZG WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

March 26, 1929. VQRCK WARP KNITTING MACHINE Filed June 21, 1927' s Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNEYS.

Mar. 26, 1929.

STATES. PATENT OFFICEQ Tnnonon e. voncx, or ZBARMEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB o THE NAIinowJABnIc co., on WEST READING, rnNNsYLvANIA, A CORPORATION or I'IINNsYLvAN A.

WARP KNITTING MAoIIINE.

Application filed June 21,

'This invention relates to the so-called Raschel type of war knitting machine, in'

which a stralght ban of vertically reciprocated needles is employed, in connection with 5 a plurality of warp-thread guides for each 1 bank so that determined warp threads may be wrapped about their own or adjacent needles on either side and interlooped by the needles with previously formed loops to produce a fabric. The invention consists in 1mprovements in this type of machine whereby it is adapted to satisfactorily produce such fabric as is shown and described. in my G0- pendin application Serial No. 68,493, filed November 12, 1925; and more particularly, first, in novel tensioning means for the elastic warp threads specifically em loyed, and for the take-off of the knitted abrics; and second in the provision of variable weft thread mechanism, whereby such improved fabric is produced in a commercially successful manner with desired pattern effects; as fully set forth in the following specification in connection'with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being clearly defined in the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation indicating essential parts of such known warp knitting machine, with my improvements applied thereto. 7 I

Fig. 2 is a corresponding front elevation, a portion only of one end of the machine belng indicated.

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view showing my improved .weft thread guide mechanism; an

Fig. dis a corresponding side elevation of the latter.

Parallel series of warp-thread guides, 2, 2, 2", 2, are jointly operative crosswise of the bank of needles 1 so that the threads of transversely alined groups of guides 2, 2, 2", 2 may be simultaneously passed between the needles; and by imparting pattern controlled longitudinal movement to determined series of guides after their threads have been passed between the needles, such threads are laid in the hooks of the needles as desired. The warp threads for the several series of guides 2, 2, 2", 2are supplied from suitable reels 20, 20 20; the latter, as indi- -1927. Serial No. 200,461.

cated, supplying the elastic warpfthreads 4 to all of the longitudinal series of( guides 2, and special tensioning mechanism as hereinafter described provided both for these feeding threads 4 and for the 0 taking off of the knitted fabric, to insure roduction of a uniformly knitted and satisactorily flat product; special weft guide 7 mechanism being also provided as will be fully set forth.

The employment of rubber warp threads 4 in connection with knitting mechanism such as above described, commonly results in the production of an objectionably distorted fabric because of difliculty in properly con 7 trolling the tensioning thereof in accord with the relatively inelastic threads employed. To provide \for securing proper feeding of such elastic threads to the knitting point, I provide special tensioning means therefor in connection with heretofore used guide rollers such as are indicated 1/ in Fig. 1 at 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, over which rollers the threads 4 are led to the usual separating comb 10 with suitable tensioning weights bearing thereon; such special tensioning means, located below the comb 10,

.comprlsmg a fixed rod 11 and a freely rotated roughened roller 12, which succes-' sively deflect the threads; a grooved roller 13 around which the threadsare turned and which is provided with a determinedly variable brake; and a second fixed deflect ing rod 14,-, below theinterposed rolls 12, 13 and over which the threads ass to their respective guides 2". The roug ened surface of roller 12 insures equalized delivery of the passing threads to the grooved roll 13, around which latter a single convolution of each thread is made and from which it is delivered over the deflecting rod 14 under the uniform braking action of the determinedly weighted brake; cord 15; so that all of the evenly stretched threads are uniformly presented to the action of the needles;

Supplementing this special tensioni mechanism for the feeding elastic warps, also provide a take-oil mechanism below the bank of needles 1, whereby equalized ten= sioning of the elastic threads 4 is main,- 7 tained after they are interengaged with the other warp threads and with any weft threads employed, as hereinafter specifically described; such take-01f mechanism compris- 'ing particularly a pair of axially supported rollers 16 and 17, and a free roller 18 pressing thereon; the knitted fabric passing part way around roller 16, over roller '18, and under roller '17 to a basket 19 or other re ceiver as desired. Roller 16 is driven-by a chain or belt 25, from a gear driven shaft 26 the gear 27 of which is actuated from a ratchet-driven gear 28 through intermediate gears 29,- 30. As shown, the ratchet pawl 31 for gear '28 is carried by a lever. 32 radially swingable about said gear 28; and an actuating intermediately pivoted lever 33 1s oscillated by a pitman 34 from apower driven cam 35, and a link 36 engaged in spaced holes.37 and 38 in levers 32 and 33 respectively, adjustably connects said levers 32 and 33 to provide a determined intermittent rotation of roller 16. A pawl 39prevents reverse turning movement of ratchet wheel 28, and the intermediate gears 29 and 36 may be changed so that their ratio of dr1ve to gear 2'? may be very delicately adjusted n connection with ad ustment of strap 36 in one or another ofholes 37 and 38.-

With the mechanism thus fully described ll am able to maintain necessary equalized tensioningof the warp 4, above the bank of needles 1 and of the fabric engaged warps below said bank of needles, so that the resultant fabric will retract equally when free of the take-off rolls 16, 18 and 17, and produce .a flat-lying fabric of equal stretch throughout.

In order to retain a fixed width of the fabric, which is necessarily made up of elongated loops formed on the stretched warps ,4 that are loosened by the retraction of said warps, I introducerweft threads 40 and 41 by means of guides 3 and 3 which'are arranged, as shown, to reciprocatively move lengthwise of the bank of needles 1. These guides 3 and 3 are carried by rolls or bars 30 and 3.0 respectively, actuated to reciprocate along the length of the bank of needles 1 throu h a parallel bar 50, which may be engages in a cam path of said. cam

, I other end being connected by a link is prevente selective y engaged by either bar 30 or 30 through arms 5 1 or 51 respectively. The arms 51 and 51* are both fastened to a clamp 50 which is securely held to reciprocating shaft 50 and they are selectively.

to bar 50, b

aroaaae gear 59 on a driven shaft 60. Shaft 60 also carries a disc 61 having cam lugs 62 arranged to oscillate an intermediately pivoted lever 63, one end of which is connected by a link 64 with arm 52 to swing arms 51 and 5.1 into and out of engagement With dogs 53 on bars 30 and 30. proper shaping and timing of cam 54, the shaft 50 is constantly reciprocated along the bank of needles 1 for each course of the fabric, or definite course desired, and by proper location of cam lug 62, the weft guides 3 and 3 are selectively reciprocated with shaft 50 to lay a partial length weft, or wefts. By using colors in the wefts, pleasing pattern elfect s -may be introduced into the fabric in connection with varying colors of the warp threads, or without the latter; and the use of such weft threads increases the resistance of the finished fabric to width stretching, with reinforced resistance wherever guides 3 or 3 lay an additional weft thread, while neither of such wefts reduces in the least the free stretch of the fabric lengthwise.

My improvements thus fully described, provide in a simple satisfactory and economical manner for-the production of the novel fabric of my aforesaid co-pending application or variations thereof, and in sure its satisfactory and commercially successful production at small cost and with large output.

What I claim is I 1. In a warp knitting machine having a bank. of'vertically reciprocated needles, and parallel series of warp-thread guides independently adjustable longitudinally and jointly operative crosswise. of the needle bank; warp-thread tensioning mechanism arranged to operate only upon the threads leading to one of; said parallel series of guides and comprising a pair of spacedapart friction rods and a cooperating pair of friction rollers, over which said threads are passed, one of. said rollers being provided with braking means.

2. In a warp knitting machine having a bank of vertically reciprocated needles, and parallel series of warp-thread guides independently adjustable longitudinally and jointly operative cross-wise of the needle bank; warp-thread tensioning mechanism arranged to operate only upon the,

threads leading to one of said parallel. series of guides; and fabric take-0E mechanism comprising a pair of take-ofirollers one of which is'driven, and-a free Presser roller supported by said take-ofirollers; whereby equalized tensioning of said determined warp threads may be maintained above and below the knitting needles.

3. In a warp knitting'machine having a bank of vertically reciprocated needles, and I parallel series of warpethread guides inmeeeee dependentiy ediiistebie iongitufineliy and jointiy operative cross-Wise of the needle 5 leading to one of said parallel series of guides; e plurality of longitudinally movable Weft guides having memes for auto meibieelliy moving the same selectively to determineoiiy engage their threedlsg and er series of three fabric take-01f rollers one of M which is afijusmhly driven 21,116; another of which is freely supported Upon the other two.

In testimony whereof I efix my signature:

\ THEQDQR e. VURGK 

